dear AJ

my precious son....today is your first "gotcha day".  can't believe it really.  one whole year since we "gotcha".  as i do for birthdays and adoption (gotcha) days, today is worthy of a letter from mom. after all, there is so much to be thankful for.  plus, it's always good to "recap" every now and again and put things in proper perspective.  what better day than today? 
yep~ it's exactly one year since i wrote this post at the end of our first day together.  rereading it brings the familiar flood of emotions.  that day was the climax of four plus years of wondering, striving, seeking, waiting, despairing, trusting and falling for you deeply.  we've had an amazing year.  you have grown and changed and flourished.  your body has settled back into a place of wellness.  your personality is priceless.  you fit this bunch.  you give and receive love in a beautiful way.  we treasure you.  as you said yourself at the dinner table the other night (while eating a french fry dotted with hot sauce~JEFFF!!!!), "i'm tough!" and yes, you surely are.  your start in life was challenging.  filled with loss.  we know this.  we remember.  we discuss. we are grateful you survived and that God found you a way here.  with us.  the journey to you, AJ (aka Zake, Alemayehu, Alemaye, Alex, Charlie, Chuck the Truck, Goochie-Poochie with a French accent~ Hannah!!) was long and hard, but the joy of being together has soooo far surpassed the heartache. 
we pray the coming year will bring you a deeper sense of security, stability and the wonderful unabashed joy of being a four year old. 
thank you God for allowing us to parent yet another terrific kid.  we seek your wisdom and strength to do that well, and energetically (as my eyelids droop).  please guide his life and guard his spirit as he faces the challenges that are to come.  may he stand in awe at the wonder of his journey and see your hand clearly in that. may his story continue to inspire and point people to you.
love you little man....
mom